Embroideries from Kalotaszeg (Calata)

Famous Hungarian Embroideries.

Kalotaszeg (Calata) is a region consisting of about 20 villages and it is located in Northwest Transylvania (Romania) around the towns of Huedin and Calatele (Kiss Kalota.) and West of Cluj (Kolozsvár Hungarian spelling) with Hungarian and Hungarian-Romanian mixed population.

This region is famous about their achievements in textile arts and embroideries.
These are charming products of Oriental design, sewn chiefly in a single color - red, blue, or black. Soft in line, the embroideries are applied on altar cloths, wedding dresses, costumes, pillow cases and sheets, runner/wall hanging, table cloth.

The reason why this form of art has become so widespread lies in the ancient custom of dowry. It was expected that a prosperous family provide their marriageable daughter with a dozen ornate pillows and sheets, two to four decorated feather beds and six to eight embroidered tablecloths. It was natural for a young woman coming from a well-to-do peasant family to possess up to twenty dresses.

Traditional Hungarian Costumes

The famous traditional Hungarian Folk Costumes of Kalotaszeg marked by specific features concerning the decoration and the cut are full of charm and color.
Embroidery on folk costumes worn for holidays and special occasions (like weddings) follows strict regional patterns, imposed by the tradition. Kalotaszeg developed some specific elements in their costumes.
The white skirts, the headdresses, the vests and their decorations; the aprons decorations, the style of the embroideries, the coats, the footwear are specific Hungarians.



The lady in the picture is dressed in a traditional costume. She lives in the village named Vista and she runs her own business with all these folks art articles seen in the photos. She can be contacted at: e_charmee@yahoo.com

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Folk Art - Traditional Pottery -Handpainted Ceramics

I took these photos at the annual autumn fair organized this year in Cluj Napoca.
These are folk art objects and souvenirs offered by the craftsmen and folk artists for sale.

Folk art is dependent upon the traditions and materials of the given community and region, rather than artistic "movements" or "schools." Art tends to involve things like potteries, one of the most ancient arts, wood carving, and fabric work (like weaving) These art objects between their practical use also tend to be applied art - artistic objects.

Romanian Pottery from Corund (Korond)

Romanian pottery is still made mainly on traditional kick-wheels with simple finishing tools. Shapes, sizes and patterns reflect the different clays and cultures of diverse areas where are produced. Color glazes and decorations vary from strong geometrics, to delicate florals, animals and humans. In the photos bellow you can see some beautiful hand painted ceramic vases.

There are many pottery centers throughout the country, each with its own distinctive style, but the best known in Transylvania is Korond (Corund). It is a large village of Harghita county (in Transylvania) inhabited mainly by Szekely and Hungarian population.

Hand painted ceramic plates.

Being one of the greatest Transylvanian and European center of folk ceramics and pot industry, Korond (Corund ) means the survival of folk art by continuing our traditions and it also means the welfare of the locals at the same time.
Some of these artists can be contacted at: ferimagdi@yahoo.com (if interested).

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